Film

Tank Malling (1988)

Director: James Marcus

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

'I wonder if he's still wearing his rubber underpants', ponders high-class prostitute Helen (Donohoe). She knows the Met's Assistant Commisioner of old, but now she's in hiding with investigative reporter Tank Malling (Winstone), spilling the beans on high-level involvement with prostitutes and drug abuse. Police, judiciary, politicians - none averse to a spot of S&M - are manipulated by Sir Robert Knights (Wyngarde), who oversees the depravity under the auspices of the Moral Revival Campaign. The last time Tank took on Sir Robert and his shady lawyer (Connery), he ended up framed for perjury; but this time the dogged newshound intends to write the definitive exposé. Tank Malling doesn't believe in subtlety where a sledgehammer will do. Characters don't talk, they shout; scenes don't merely evolve, they're telegraphed. The actors do their best (Donohoe in particular), but they're left struggling with impossible stereotypes and hackneyed dialogue.

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